chapter TWENTY-FIVE
In the dim light of the candles, Keria was lying down on the stone bench in her windowless cell, trying to gather her courage, not knowing whether it was day or night. In the silence, she heard voices on the other side of the door, coming closer. A chill descended on her, her body shivering uncontrollably, and she knew that a demon was coming for her.
She had arrived the day before, after a three-day ride. She had tried to leave clues behind, circumspectly pulling off some beads from her dress and dropping them on the ground, terrified that she would be caught. Despite her fear, she had been treated correctly, despite the leering and comments of the half-men.
When she arrived, she had been placed in the care of female guards and taken to the cell. The guards were like the half-men, with that slightly crazed look, clearly under the influence of the demons. She had food brought for her. She was given a bucket of water to wash up and a plain woolen dress and sandals as a change of clothes.
After ensuring that no one could see her, she had stripped off her clothes, dirty and stained with blood, and used the water to quickly bathe. After her old clothes and bucket were taken away, she had no contact with anyone.
Steeling her resolve, reminding herself that she was a princess and needed to act like it, she stood as she heard the lock on her cell rattle. She watched as the guards came in, standing on either side of the door. The doorway seemed to darken, the candles fading, as a figure entered her cell, ducking its head.
She quivered with terror as it rose to its full height, standing nearly eight feet tall. It was dressed in a dark, belted robe, but she could tell that it was muscular, with broad shoulders. Its hands were large, ending with short, sharp-looking claws. Its face was surprising human-like, though hairless, with only its black eyes and pointed teeth standing out.
"You are indeed lovely, Princess; more than the reports had indicted." The figure said quietly, its deep voice echoing off the stone walls of her cell. "I am Creatos, the lord of this place. You are my guest and to be treated properly until I have the boy. I plan on giving you to him as an incentive to obey me, so I want you unharmed…" it chuckled, an ugly sound "…and unspoiled."
Creatos reached over to touch her face, caressing it. Keria fought down the urge to scream. "Lovely, indeed. If he is stupid enough to refuse, I may keep you for myself after I kill him." The demon said with a leer.
Keria was terrified, but forced herself to ask. "What boy is that?"
Creatos laughed, the sound chilling Keria's soul. "The boy from the other world, of course, this Jake Thomas."
…
It was late afternoon when Jake and Dominic rode up to the North Gate. They had stayed on the main roads, Dominic deciding speed was better than stealth this time. They had made good time, with Jake appreciating sleeping in a bed at the inns and waystations rather than on the ground.
The guards saluted Dominic when he approached. Dominic returned the salute as he rode past, Jake right behind him. Dominic wanted to speak with Jonas first, before word of their return spread, so they headed directly to the Temple. They rode up to the side of the Temple and dismounted. Tying the horses off at the fence, they went through the gate and straight to Jonas' apartment.
Dominic knocked on the door, waiting a few moments, then knocked again. Shrugging his shoulders, he turned and went into the Temple. He went over to the first cleric he saw, a pretty woman in her early thirties. The woman gave a start at seeing him, then smiled warmly.
"Sister, where is Jonas?" Dominic asked politely.
"He has gone to the palace to meet with the king, Dominic. He will likely be there until this evening." She replied, voice kind. "You can wait for him in the library if you like."
Dominic mulled it over for a moment. "Thank you, Sister, but we will go to Mastersmith Norlan's home." He finally said. "Would you please inform Jonas that we are back when he returns?"
"Of course, Dominic." She said, giving him a slight bow.
"Is Hailyn here?" Jake asked, looking around.
"She is currently busy in the healing clinic." The cleric said, smiling at Jake's question. "I will let her know you have returned when she is done with her duties."
"Let's go, boy." Dominic said, gesturing towards the door. "I'm sure that Madalin will take it out of my hide if I do not bring you to her right away, to show her that you are still in one piece."
They went out, mounted up and rode over to Norlan's. Jake noticed the surprised looks and whispers as they rode through the city. Remembering that some blamed him for the attack on the city, he hoped those stares and whispers were only for Dominic's return.
After they tied off the horses, they headed to the front door and Dominic knocked on it. After a few moments, Madalin opened the door. Her eyes widened as she took in the two of them standing there, clearly stunned to see them, then without a word, came over to Jake and pulled him into a tight hug.
Jake returned the embrace, surprised to see tears in her eyes when she let him go, a wide smile on her face. She went over to hug Dominic as well, thanking him for returning Jake safely.
"Come inside, both of you." She said, wiping away her tears. "Are you hungry? I can make you something."
"We had some rations on the road, Madalin." Dominic said. "There is no need to make anything special." He glanced around. "Is Norlan at the smithy?"
"Yes." She replied. "I can go get him."
"I can get him faster on Shadow." Dominic said, turning back to the horses. "Spend some time catching up with the boy."
Madalin led Jake into the kitchen and sat him down at the table. Before he knew it, she had a plate of fruit and some sweets in front of him. As he gratefully ate, he wondered where Cherise was and asked.
"She is at a friend's house tonight." Madalin said, a smile on her face as she put her hand on Jake's. "She started her apprenticeship a couple of weeks after you left. She has become close to one of the other girls there. I'm so happy she has found a friend her age."
Her smile faded and she sighed, then continued. "She still has nightmares about the attack, but gets a little better each day. She takes the dog with her when she leaves the house, but her instructors and her friend's family are very understanding."
They sat there talking, Jake telling her all that had happened to him since he left. They were discussing his return trip when Norlan and Dominic came in the door, Norlan carrying something wrapped in a blanket. Jake stood up to greet Norlan and was pulled into a hug.
"It is good to see you whole and healthy, Jake." Norlan said when he released him. He set his bundle on the table, unrolling the blanket. Jake saw that there were two sets of sheathed swords and daggers, each attached to the black leather belt wrapped around it. Norlan picked up one of the sets and turned to Dominic.
"Apparently, this Tomaris sent Jonas a recipe for an alloy that he claims is stronger than steel, even though it is much lighter. It looks like Jake has armor made of it." Norlan said, nodding towards Jake. "Jonas passed it along to me. It took some time to get the ingredients and we only had enough to make these swords and daggers, but it was marvelous to work with. This is Helman's master piece." He held it out to Dominic. "I give this to you in thanks for keeping Jake safe."
Dominic took it and drew the sword. The double-edge blade was a little longer that Dominic's current blade, but it was bright, similar to Jake's armor. Dominic balanced it on his fingers, then swung it a few times, apparently liking what he felt. He put it back into its scabbard, then gave Norlan a courtly bow. "It is a princely gift, Mastersmith. I will use it with pride."
Norlan nodded, then turned to Jake. He picked up the other set and held it out. "This one is for you, Jake, for rescuing Cherise. I made the sword and dagger myself."
Jake took it, noting its lightness. He removed his old swordbelt and belted on the new one. He partially drew the sword, the blade sharp and bright, the hilt feeling secure in his hand. He resheathed it and turned to Norlan. "Thank you, Norlan. I'm not a swordsman like Dominic, but will try to make you proud."
Norlan, smiling, clapped him on the shoulder. "You already have, Jake."
Madalin cleared away the blanket and had them sit down. She brought out some wine and cups to celebrate their return. They were quietly catching up when there was a knock on the door. Norlan went over to open it and Jonas came in, followed by Hailyn.
Dominic rose and went to greet Jonas, exchanging a quick embrace. Jonas also embraced Jake, a warm smile on his face.
"It is good to see you again, Jake." Jonas said, looking closely at him. "You seem healthy and Tomaris wrote that you have gained good control over your power."
"I hope so, Jonas." Jake replied. "It's nice to see you again, as well."
Jonas, smiling, went over to the table to greet Madalin, Dominic and Norlan following. Hailyn had stopped when they entered, but when Jake smiled at her, she came over to him and threw her arms around his neck, embracing him tightly. He returned the embrace, then gently broke it, conscious of the rest watching them. Hailyn smiled back, then flushed when she saw Jonas watching with a knowing look on his face. They went over to the table, joining the rest. Hailyn helped Madalin prepare the food while Dominic and Jake told Jonas and Norlan about their time at Tomaris' Keep.
After Jake helped Madalin with the dishes, they decided to head outside to enjoy the night air. As they were sitting and talking quietly on the patio, they heard the sound of a large number of horses riding up. Dominic was on his feet in a flash, striding towards the side gate, the rest of them right behind. Jake saw that there were at least twenty Royal Guards sitting on horseback. Jake was surprised to see Sir Alleon enter through the gate. He came up to Dominic, giving him a salute, his face carrying none of the good humor that Jake recalled from the encounter on the road.
"Dominic, I have orders to bring you and your charge to the palace." Alleon said unhappily. "You must come with me now."
While Dominic simply stared at Alleon, not saying anything, Jonas interjected. "What is this about, Sir Alleon? I was at the palace this afternoon and no mention of this was brought to me."
"I cannot answer that, Brother Jonas." Alleon said. "All I know is that a rider came up from the south about an hour ago. Shortly thereafter, I was ordered to find Dominic."
"Do your orders say anything about me?" Jonas asked.
"More Guards were sent to the Temple." Alleon replied. "I assume that their orders were the same as mine."
"If we must do this, let's get it finished." Dominic said, shaking his head. "I take it that we are not under arrest, Alleon?"
"I was given no such order, Dominic." Alleon said. "Only that I was to make you and Jake come to the palace immediately, even if I had to use force." He looked decidedly uncomfortable with that.
"That will not be necessary, Sir Alleon." Jonas said smoothly. "We will come right now."
"Should I come?" Norlan asked. "I am as responsible for Jake as the others."
"My orders did not say one way or another, Mastersmith." Alleon replied. "Come if you like."
The four men went over to Shadow and Dontas. Norlan climbed up behind Jake while Dominic took Jonas on Shadow. They came back over to Alleon, who had the Royal Guards form up around them and started off towards the palace.
Dominic rode next to Alleon. "How was the west, Alleon?" He asked quietly. "When did you return?"
"It was quiet, actually. I saw more flies than anything else." Alleon replied, some good humor returning, relieved that they were moving. "I arrived back around two weeks ago. I was actually called back to court around three weeks ago, but I was delayed a few days in leaving. I was told to leave my men behind, so I had to make sure everything was in order."
"Why were you ordered back?" Dominic asked, a frown on his face.
"I was told when I arrived that I was supposed to have commanded the princess' security detail, but I missed the departure." Alleon said. "Apparently, they got Armartas to leave the stables and do it instead."
"Then why send for you in the first place?" Dominic mused. "There are others here, besides Armartas, who could have done it."
"You know how court works." Alleon said, softly laughing. "I was in the west, so I could not argue against it."
They arrived at the palace to find it a hub of activity. Soldiers were going to and fro, all looking serious. They dismounted and went inside, Dominic walking with Alleon, the others right behind them. They arrived at the Great Hall doors and were shown in immediately.
The king was sitting on his throne, looking pale and haunted, Lord Genela standing next to him. The buzz in the room faded as they approached the throne. As they approached, Jake saw Marcus standing near the dais, his face a mask of anger. He stared at Jake as he got closer, his expression not changing. Jake started to get a bad feeling about this.
They halted before the king and made their bows. Alleon stepped forward and said. "As I was commanded, Your Majesty, I have brought Dominic and the boy Jake. Brother Jonas and Mastersmith Norlan also have come as guardians of Jake."
"What is this about?" Dominic demanded, voice hard.
"Peace, Dominic." Genela replied, raising his hands, glancing at the king. "We have received disturbing news. On her return trip from the south, the princess was captured by demons and her escort destroyed. The lone survivor was released to tell us their demands."
Jake suddenly felt sick to his stomach. Keria kidnapped and in the hands of the demons. Captain Armartas, whom Jake liked, dead.
Genela pointed at Jake. "Our enemies have demanded that we turn over this boy. If we do, the princess will be released unharmed. If not, then they will send her back in pieces."
Jake stood there, stunned. He now understood why Marcus was upset; this was his fault. He made to say he would accept when Dominic spoke.
"Since when do we do what our enemies demand?" He said loudly, voice tinged with anger. "I will not allow the boy to be made a sacrifice, no matter who it would save."
"That choice is not yours to make, Dominic." Genela said sharply. "The king will decide." He motioned to the guards, who started to come towards them. "Until that time, we will keep the boy here at the palace."
Dominic stepped away from the group and drew his sword, the blade catching the light, the guards hesitating when they saw that. "I am the boy's champion, Genela." He said loudly, so all could hear. "I will not permit you to take him." The hall went silent and all eyes looked up to the throne.
Alleon stood there, staring at Dominic, stunned as they all were. Jake reached for his sword, but Jonas grabbed his hand. "Don't make this worse." He said firmly.
He strode over to Dominic. "Put that away, Dom." He demanded. Dominic and Jonas traded looks, then, with a nod, Dominic sheathed his sword.
Stepping back in front of the group, Jonas stabbed his staff down, the silver cap ringing on the polished stone floor, golden light shining brightly as his embraced his power. "I have heard much from you, Lord Genela, but I have not heard anything from the king." He said, voice even. "I want to hear what he has to say."
"Until His Majesty and I come to an understanding, I place the boy under the protection of the Temple." Jonas announced, staring grimly at Genela. "To try to seize him will mean that you seek to violate the Agreement and I will have to take steps to defend it."
That statement seemed to rouse the king. He waved off the guards and Genela, his face now angry. "They have my daughter, Brother Jonas, and I will do what I must to rescue her." He stated, tone sharp. "But I will not be the one to violate the Agreement."
"I have no wish to challenge you, Your Majesty, but I cannot allow an innocent life to be thrown away to satisfy our enemies." Jonas said more softly, sympathy in his voice. "I know that you are heartbroken, but please do not do anything rash."
"What do you suggest I do?" The king demanded, rising from his throne and coming down to stand in front of Jonas.
"If you are willing, we should send a party in force to win her back." Jonas said. "I will accompany them myself, along with other clerics, to battle the demons and try to free the princess. It is better to fall fighting them than to acquiesce to their demands."
The king smiled grimly. "Then we are of the same mind. I have already ordered two hundred soldiers to be ready at first light to ride to the Forest where she was taken. You and as many clerics as you think appropriate will be a welcome addition."
"Also, a messenger will be sent to mobilize all of our southern garrisons. Once they are ready, I plan to sweep the entire Forest to drive out the demons and their followers. I will burn it to the ground if that is what it takes." He finished, face set.
He looked at Alleon. "Sir Alleon, will you consent to lead this expedition?"
"I gladly accept, Your Majesty." Alleon replied with a bow.
"I will accompany this expedition as well, Your Majesty." Dominic said, loud enough to carry across the hall. "I will be Jonas' sword, keeping him safe so he can defeat the demons."
"Your presence will lend courage to the men, Dominic." The king replied, seeming taken aback by the offer. "Thank you."
"I will go as well." Marcus said loudly, defiantly. "I should have gone with her in the first place. I will not be left behind again, even if I have to go alone."
The king stared at Marcus, weighing his demand, then nodded.
"I will go to, Your Majesty." Jake said. He felt the eyes of the court turn towards him, as well as the king's. "I care for the princess and do not want to see her hurt because of me."
"But for you to go would mean that the demons could succeed in getting what they want, if you are taken." The king replied, voice neutral.
"They will not take me." Jake said resolutely. He embraced his magic, brilliant blue light shining forth, reflecting off the walls. He heard the gasps around the hall.
The king nodded, hope rising in his eyes.
...
Jake took Norlan back home after they finished at the palace while Jonas and Dominic left to make plans. After they told Madalin that Jake was leaving again and why, she went in and made him several pouches of food to take with him. Jake went to his room and tried to sleep, but it did not come, images of Keria in the hands of the demons haunting him.
Dominic rode up in the early morning hours to retrieve Jake. Jake had his bags ready to go and, after a tearful goodbye with Norlan and Madalin, mounted up. They made their way quietly in the dark, riding to join the rest of the expedition.
It was probably an hour before dawn when Jake followed Dominic into the West Gate's courtyard. The courtyard was packed with soldiers and a smaller number of clerics on horseback, along with several large wagons packed with supplies. Dominic led them over to a smaller wagon sitting off to the side. The wagon had stacks of blankets and what looked like bandages loaded in the back, along with various jars. Jake was surprised to see Jonas sitting on the bench, his staff resting against his shoulder. He was even more shocked to see Hailyn sitting next to Jonas.
"Good morning." Jonas said in greeting. He saw Jake's gaze. "Hailyn is quite a skilled healer, which may be needed. Also, besides being strong in her power, she is ready to take her final tests as an apprentice. This will give her a taste of what the clerics in the army face." He smiled fondly at her. "Under my watchful eye, of course."
Alleon, his armor gleaming in the torchlight, rode over and spoke quietly with Dominic. After a few minutes of conversation, Alleon rode to the gates, calling the soldiers to attention. The courtyard noise faded as the soldiers formed up and waited for orders.
"We ride after our captured princess." Alleon said loudly as his stood in his stirrups. "We will pursue our enemies to the ends of the world, if needed. When we find them, we will rescue her and avenge our fallen comrades. We leave now and will not return until we have success. Be prepared for long days in the saddle, as we need to move with all possible speed."
With that, he signaled to the gate guards, who went into the gate room. Within a few seconds, the sound of the large outer gates opening echoed across the courtyard.
Alleon wheeled his horse and headed out the tunnel, his standard bearer next to him, the rest of the soldiers following in ordered units. The wagons went next, with Jake and his friends bringing up the rear. They passed out of the city and headed west on the Royal Highway.
Once on the road, Alleon redeployed his soldiers. He sent outriders on either side of the column and scouts ahead. Some of the soldiers fell back to form a rear guard while others rode next to the wagons as security. Jake was a little surprised at the pace, a little faster than he expected, given the wagons.
They rode for the rest of the day, finally pulling a short distance off the highway as the sun went down. Jake had thought that they would have turned off the highway near the waystation he remembered, to head south, but Dominic explained that it would actually be faster to take the main southern road. It was wider and in better shape.
Over the next couple of days, Jake spent most of his time riding next to Jonas' wagon, talking with Hailyn. At times, she would join him on Dontas, so they could speak more privately. He was glad to have her back, enjoying her presence and realizing he had missed having a friend his age to talk to.
Jake was not sure what to think about Marcus. He rode in silence for the most part, looking pensive. However, when they stopped the second night, he approached Jake after dinner, Dominic sitting nearby, observing.
"I want you to know that you are not to blame for this. It is our enemies who caused this to happen." Marcus said directly. "We are now comrades-in-arms, for better or worse. In this quest, we may need to defend each other. Until we recover Keria, I would put aside our differences." He held out his hand.
Jake rose and shook his hand, nodding. "Until Keria is safe."
They reached the site of the attack late in the afternoon of the third day. There were some soldiers from the closest garrison already there, recovering weapons and other equipment. Alleon went to speak with their commander. He came back to report that the messenger allowed to escape had ridden to the garrison after the attack. Once the commander had enough forces, he had marched them here. They did not have sufficient men to pursue the half-men, but had buried the dead and guarded the site.
They made camp nearby, mobilizing early the next morning. The scouts found the tracks of the princess' carriage, along with the tracks of a large body of horses. They followed it for a couple of hours until it reached a wide forest road that ran north-south. The tracks headed south and Alleon gave the order to follow.
They had traveled for a few hours when the scouts rode back to report that they had found some tracks leading off on a forest road that branched to the east, apparently by a small group that broke away from the larger. They had stopped and searched the area.
"We found this at the intersection of the two roads." The lead scout said as he handed Alleon a small reddish bead. "We went up both roads a ways, but could not find any others. However, the carriage tracks continue to the south."
"We have to assume that the princess was with the carriage." Alleon stated. "We will continue to follow it."
However, when they reached the intersecting roads, Dominic asked for a halt. He went to look at the tracks himself, the lead scout at his side, and went up the side road, disappearing for several minutes. He returned and called Alleon over. Jonas, Jake and Marcus joined them.
"It looks like a small group, maybe fifteen or twenty horse." Dominic said, frowning. "I found several demon prints, as well. Something about that bothers me. If it was simply a group of half-men, I would only expect to see one demon, if that."
"Do you think the princess went that way?" Alleon asked, concerned.
"I don't know." Dominic replied, shrugging his shoulders. "It just doesn't seem right."
"I can't turn aside from the larger group to chase this down." Alleon said. "We would lose precious time if it turns out to be wrong. I have to assume that she is with her carriage."
"I agree, Alleon." Dominic said. "I will ride out to track this down while you continue after the main party."
"If you think there are demons, Dom, I will come with you." Jonas said. "There are enough clerics with the soldiers to meet any challenge without me."
"I want to go." Jake said quickly. "I can help if there are demons, as well."
"I go where he goes." Marcus said, nodding at Jake.
Dominic stared at them, apparently weighing his options. He turned back to Alleon. "If you are willing, task out four soldiers to come with us. They can help guard Jonas' wagon and act as messengers if we find something. We will ride until we know that the princess did not go that way. If there is nothing, we will return and follow your trail."
Alleon quickly agreed and selected four soldiers to go with them. Jonas called over some of the clerics and distributed most of his medical supplies to them. Jake saw Jonas and Hailyn discussing something, both of them looking at him. Jonas nodded and Hailyn joined him on the wagon.
They quickly gathered some extra supplies, food and water, then moved off the road. With a final farewell, their small group headed off on the easterly road, the rest of the soldiers and clerics continuing south.
They made their way along the road for the rest of the day, Dominic tracking their quarry's passage. Jake rode next to the wagon, talking with Hailyn while Marcus rode on the other side. As the sun was getting low, they came upon a fork in the road. Dominic stopped, dismounted and looked around the area, checking the roads and surrounding areas while the rest stood by.
"Our trail still leads east." He said. "I can't find any evidence that they traveled down the side road."
"However, these markings indicate that a mining camp is down the side road." Dominic continued, pointing to some carvings in a tree near the fork. "They may have information. We should probably go down to ask if they have seen anything."
Jonas glanced at Hailyn, a frown on his face. "These camps are rough places, the men suspicious. It may be best if we only send a couple of riders. I should be one since clerics are generally welcome."
"I agree. I will go with you for protection." Dominic said, catching his meaning.
"We need to stop for the night anyway." Jonas said. "Maybe we could set up camp here and then go talk to the miners."
Dominic nodded and went into the woods. After ten minutes, he returned to lead them to a clearing he found, set back in the woods. The sun was setting by the time they finished making camp. Dominic assigned the soldiers guard duty, then went over to where the rest were sitting next to the wagon.
"Jonas will need to take Dontas." He said to Jake. "I don't want to take the wagon or the soldiers' mounts. He can match Shadow, so that may allow us to escape if the need arises."
"No problem, Dominic." Jake replied.
After a quick meal, Dominic and Jonas mounted up and headed off in the direction of the miners' camp, leaving the rest of the group behind.
…
Night had fallen over the woods as Dominic and Jonas rode up to the mining camp. The camp consisted primarily of tents, with a couple of ramshackle wooden buildings in the center. A rough wooden palisade had been erected around the perimeter, with a makeshift gate in place. The entire camp was surrounded with large torches and fire pits. Standing behind the gates was a group of armed miners with a mismatch of weapons and armor. Several others were on the palisade with bows, arrows notched but not drawn.
"Halt!" One of the men yelled, anger and fear in his voice. "Don't come any closer!"
Dominic and Jonas stopped their horses and sat still, making no threatening movement. Jonas slowly lifted his hand and called out.
"I am a cleric of the One." He said, loudly but calmly. "I am sworn to protect and serve all men in His name. We are no threat to you; we come only seeking information."
"Prove it!" Another voice from behind the gate called.
Jonas embraced his power, his shining form driving away the night. He sat there, unmoving, letting the miners decide the next steps. He heard some murmuring from the men, then the gate was opened just enough to allow a gap for them to ride in.
Dominic went first, the miners stepping back from him, clearly intimidated. Jonas followed, holding onto his power. The gate was quickly pulled closed behind them.
"The last thing I expected to see was a cleric." One of the miners said, a large, bearded man carrying a rusty axe. "Would you be willing to look at our injured, Brother?"
"Of course." Jonas said, sliding off Dontas' back. Dominic was on the ground as well, watching the miners, hand resting lightly on his sword. "Where are they?"
"In the main building." The man said, turning back towards the wooden building. He looked at the other miners. "Back to your posts!" He snapped. The other miners left, mumbling under their breath.
"You're in charge?" Dominic asked as they made their way to the building, gaze scanning the area. "Miners are known to be stubbornly independent types."
"We needed to band together to survive in these woods." The man said. "I am Petrous, leader of this camp. The other miners elected me since I was a soldier once, long ago." He opened the door of the building, revealing ten men lying on the floor, some covered in blankets, all injured.
"Which one is in the worst shape?" Jonas asked as he moved into the room, his shining form brighter than the candles burning, chasing away the shadows, looking closely at the injured men. Petrous pointed to a man near the back, looking dead already, with a vicious-looking wound across his face and one arm hacked off at the elbow, the bandages soiled and reeking of infection.
As Jonas made his way through the wounded, some reaching out for him, begging for help, Dominic turned to Petrous.
"How did this happen?" He asked, nodding towards the men. "Those look like battle wounds, not mining accidents."
"Around a week ago, Niso…" Petrous indicated the wounded man in the back that Jonas was healing "…and Hander were scouting out near the main road. We often go up there to see if there are any threats coming our way. They were in the woods off the road when they saw a group of half-men ride by, heading east. They normally would have stayed quiet and let them pass, since we see the half-men in the woods from time to time, but they noticed something strange. There was an Imp as well, but that was not the strange thing. What made this different was that Niso swore there was a young woman riding with them."
Dominic contained his surprise, only asking. "What happened?"
"Hander, the stupid fool that he was, decided that he had to rescue this damsel in distress." Petrous spat, shaking his head. "He sent a couple arrows into the demon, yelling for the girl to ride towards them. The demon sent the half-men into the woods instead. Niso and Hander turned and fled, riding back here as hard as they could."
"They were almost back when another five half-men and an Imp suddenly came out of the woods to join their pursuers. The demon fried Hander in his saddle, but Niso made it to the gates. Fortunately, we have an excellent bowman named Frondis who feathered the demon, keeping it at a distance. The half-men attacked, but we were able to overwhelm them. After several minutes of hard fighting, the demon called back those still alive and left."
Dominic had looked over at Jonas as Petrous was speaking, watching him make his way through the wounded, almost finished with healing them. He noticed something odd, his hand drifting towards his sword.
"You said this battle took place a week ago?" He asked and Petrous nodded. "Then why are some of these men's wounds fresh?" He finished, voice now hard, eyes focused on Petrous.
Petrous stepped back from Dominic, holding up his hands, recoiling from that gaze. "I had not gotten there yet. After that battle, we saw no signs of the demons or half-men until today. A group was coming back from the mines just before dark when they encountered a large party of half-men and demons moving through the woods. Most fell, but the freshly wounded are the ones who made it back."
Dominic felt a chill go through him. "Jonas, we have to go now!"